THE LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats almost put it all together today but finished the season winless after dropping a home doubleheader to North Central University.

Maranatha compiled 17 hits and 9 runs on the day - their highest total of any doubleheader this season.

THE OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 2-7 North Central, Maranatha 7-21 North Central
• Venue: Washington Park
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 78
• Records: MBU (0-18), NCU (6-9)

THE STORY

A 3-run third inning was the highlight of the opener, as North Central steadily increased their lead en route to a 7-2 win. Maranatha's moment came in the bottom of the sixth when they turned 2 hits and an error into 2 runs to get on the board.

Shane Paruch led Maranatha with 2 hits in the opener. Caleb Huthmaker recorded the Sabercats' only RBI.

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The final game of the season got interesting in the third inning when Maranatha scored 3 runs to make it a 6-5 game. Paruch started things with an RBI single, and a crazy play after a Nate Croswell single scored a couple of runs and ended the at-bat. But Maranatha had made it a 1-run game.

�� Shane get a rally started and we got a game here!

Top 4

Maranatha 5
North Central 6 pic.twitter.com/XaLsFyIb3K

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) May 1, 2021

That seemed to awaken the proverbial beast, as the Rams responded with 6 runs in their next at-bat and 12 runs in the next 3 frames. It was all about North Central through the closing innings, as the Rams finalized the details of the sweep. Paruch went 3-4 with a double and 3 runs scored to lead the Sabercats.

Despite the loss, it was Maranatha's best offensive performance of the uncertain 2021 season, as they ended their season on a high note at Washington Park.

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Seniors Kile Arp, Nate Croswell, David Hecker, and Caleb Huthmaker all played their final game for Maranatha.

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Maranatha Lineup (Game 1) - 7- Cripps (P), 19- T. Smith (SS), 8- Paruch (3B), 4- Huthmaker (RF), 6- Hecker (CF), 10- Ratledge (2B), 3- Croswell (C), 2- Fredrickson (LF), 18- Arp (1B)

Maranatha Lineup (Game 2) - 7- Cripps (C), 19- T. Smith (SS), 8- Paruch (P), 4- Huthmaker (RF), 6- Hecker (CF), 10- Ratledge (3B), 3- Croswell (2B), 18- Arp (1B), 2- Fredrickson (LF)

THE STATS

• Box Score (Game 1)
• Box Score (Game 2)

THE OPPONENTS

• North Central competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)
• North Central only played 5 games last season before the rest of it was canceled due to coronavirus

THE OUTLOOK

A full recap of the season will be coming at mbusabercats.com.